Alexander Dennis, a subsidiary of NFI Group, has unveiled its first Enviro100AEV autonomous electric bus developed for the Cambridge Connector project.
This announcement marks a significant milestone in the UK’s exploration of autonomous vehicle technologies for public transport.
The Cambridge Connector Project
The Cambridge Connector is a collaborative initiative funded in part by Innovate UK and supported by the UK Government’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV). It is led by the Greater Cambridge Partnership, with contributions from a consortium of partners, including Alexander Dennis, Fusion Processing, IPG Automotive, dRISK, and Gamma Energy.
The project is using an innovative funding model in which the autonomous buses will be owned by Mistral Group and leased to the Greater Cambridge Partnership. This approach aims to ensure flexibility and sustainability in deploying the latest transportation technology.
Vehicle Unveiling
The unveiling of the new bus took place at Alexander Dennis’s technology hub in Farnborough, where consortium representatives gathered to celebrate the completion of the first Enviro100AEV.
The bus will now undergo a phase of track-based testing to fine-tune Fusion Processing’s CAVStar® automated drive system.
Following track testing, the vehicle will be delivered to Cambridge for further trials and safety driver training. These preparations aim to ensure smooth and secure operations before public services commence later this year at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, a site that integrates biomedical research, patient care, and education.
Jamie Wilson, Head of Concepts & Advanced Engineering at Alexander Dennis, said:The completion of the first Enviro100AEV is a great milestone for the Connector project as we now enter a phase of vehicle testing to ready the technology for public services. This builds on the substantial work we have done with Fusion Processing and other partners in similar projects to further refine this technology as we continue to explore use cases where autonomous buses can improve operational efficiency and add flexibility to transport networks.
The Enviro100AEV represents a fusion of electric and autonomous technologies designed to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of public transport networks. By combining these innovations, the Connector project aims to explore how autonomous vehicles can be integrated into urban mobility systems.
The trial in Cambridge will provide insights into the operational and practical implications of deploying autonomous buses in a real-world setting. If successful, this technology could serve as a model for other cities looking to modernise their public transport systems while reducing environmental impact.
Cllr Elisa Meschini, Chair of the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s Executive Board said:Connector will see autonomous vehicles being trialled on our city’s roads to investigate their potential to transform the way people travel. This is a significant opportunity for Cambridge to lead the way in innovation, paving the way for more sustainable and efficient ways to get to where people need to go. Seeing the first vehicle arrive and be ready for testing is a testament to the collaborative efforts of everyone involved with the consortium and I look forward to seeing how this technology can potentially shape the future of public transport.
